Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



' UNITED STATEST PATENT (')rrrca7 CHARLES HOWARD, oF NEW ironK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BR-EECH-LOADING FlRE-RMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50, P25, dated September 2G, 1865.

f part of this specification. I

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of said tire-arm with the lever-guard closed. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same with the lever-guard closed, and the-cartridge forced thereby into the small caliber 'of the barrel. It also shows the lire-arm cocked and readyr for discharging. Fig. 3 is also a vertical longitudinal section of the same, showing the manner of inserting the cartridge into the breech, and the lever-guard open. Fig-4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the bayonet and barrel, showing the manner 0f adjusting the bayonet to the barrel. Fig. 5 is an end View of plunger. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a cartridge used for looseammunition. Fig. 7

' isa view of the back sight, V, with the slideframe up, as seen when f aiming. Fig. 8 isa view of forward sight, W, as seen when aiming. Fig. 9 is aback and forward view of the connecting-stirrup K. Fig. 10 is a side view of a hook for drawing out the shell of a metal cartridge after the discharge ofthe piece, showing said hook in detail and more clearly than'it v Y can be well represented iu the general views.

A in Fig. lis the stock. B is the barrel, andis made with a large caliber at the back end, thus forming a chamber, R, for the slidf ing breech-pin P to slide backward to admit of the cartridge D, as shown in Fig. 3; also to slide forward, so as to force said cartridge into the small caliber of the barrel, as shown in Fig. 2. There is also a slot or opening, S, cut through the bottom side of the back end of the barrel, through which the cartridge is inserted, and through which the plunger is attached to the lever-guard that moves the plunger and opens and closes the aperture inV the act of loading the fire-arm. The chamber R, which the back end of the barrel forms, extends back through the breech-piece C.

The stock A and barrel B are joined together by the metallic breech-piece C, through which the end of the plunger or sliding breechpin P, iuclosiug the hammer-rod E, passes whenever the lever-guard F is thrown outward, in orderto open the chamber for the introduction of a cartridge. f

Thelock ot' said firearm consists of a hammer-rod, E, a spiral spring, H, a spring-hook, I, a trigger` J, a.connection-stirrup, K, a sliding hook, M, and two percussion-pins, L l, one of which passes through the center ot' the head of the plunger to explode the cap whenever loose ammunition is used. This piu hasa large head which covers the head of the small side pin, l, and transmits the stroke ofthe hammer to the head of the said small pin, and at the same time keeps the small pin in its place, thecenter pin being heldin its place by the end of asmall screw passing through the side of the plunger into a slot or notch in the side of said center pin, said notch being sufficiently large to admit the pin to slide enough to explode the cap on the cartridge., The small pin l passes through the head of the plunger near one side, so as'to explode fixed ammunition or metallic cartridge.

The lever-guardF- is-attached at its forward end to the plunger by a joint and a metallic frog or block, G, which is firmly secured to the plunger, there-being an opening in the `bottom side of the back end of the barrel of sufficient width and length to admit the plunger thus attached to slide backward and forward, as the guard is open and shut, a sufficient distance to open and shut a chamber forthe reception of Ythecartrid ge, as heretofore described. Said lever-guard is also attached to the breechpiece O by a metallic yoke, N, with a hole in each end, one end being secured by a bolt or pin to the lever-guard a short distance from the forward end, and t-he'other end of. said yoke is secured in like manner-to the forward end of the breech-piece G, so as to form a rm joint at each end, said yoke forming a fulcrum for the lever-guard to act on, so as to force the plunger back and forward, as desired, to open and close the aperture for the cartridge and to force the cartridge forward into the barrel of the lire-arm. Said yoke, in connection with the forward end of the lever, forms a strong and rigid kneejoint, which shoves homeand rigidly tachedin like manner to the sides of said leverguard and breech-piece, instead 0f the center. There is also a sliding hook, M, for pulling the shell of the exploded cartridge out of the barrel. Said slide isplaced'in a groove cutin the outside of the plunger longitudinally, said slide being longer than the plunger, with a notch o'r hook on each end, and is so arranged that when the guard. is thrown open, which brings the back end of the plunger against the back end of the chamber, the slide is forced forward, projectinginto the open space, so that when the cartridge is inserted vit lies on the forward end of the slide, with the flange of the cartridge between the head 'of the plunger and the hook, (or notchon the end ot' the slide and whenthe plunger is brought forward by closing said guard the cartridge is pushed forward into the barrel, leaving the hook or notch a: in front of the flange ol' the cartridge, so thatwhen thepiece is discharged and the leverguard thrown back to load again this sliding hook pulls the old cartridge-shell out of the barrel, and it falls from the gun without any assistance of the operator. There is also a notch, X, on the frontprojection ot' said slide for throwing the shell ofsaid cartridge out of the recess U, which is turned out of the forward end of the plunger, said recess being of sulicient size and depth to admit the back` end of the cartridge to enter as deep as the thickness of the flange, said recess being made for the double purpose of protecting the flange Vguard is thrown open, when it drops out of the gun itself., When the recess is usedl to pull out the shell no forward hook is needed on'the slide, in which case the whole end of theslide may be used instead of a notch to throw ont the shell. l j.

The forward part of the lever-guardie so constructed that in closing it lls or shuts the slot or opening in the barrel, and the` .projection on said lever-guard shuts into notches in the side and behind the back end of said plunger, and between the plunger and the back end of the slot in the barrel, also against the metallic breech-piece, all of which (including "power-joint formed by the fulcrum-yoke and end of the lever-guard) holds the said plunger firmly and rigidly against the cartridge and the forward end v0f the chamber in which the plunger travels, making it so firm and tight that no gas escapes under the pressure of the heaviest charges. The forward sight on said fire-arm is formed by a silver or bright cross embedded in dark metal, so that the eye 'perceives it at a glance, the vertical portion ot' the cross pointing up to the center of the mark, the horizontal dividing it laterally, so that the least deviation is at once detected. The back sight is formed so that it lies flat upon the barrel, so as not to be exposed to injury or to injure the party holding it. There being no cock to the gun, and the sight being thus made, this fire-arm is less liable to accident andis smooth and pleasantto handle. The said hack sight is lformed ot' three pieces, yet is condensed in one thin layer on the barrel, still has all the advantages ofthe more cumbersome and complicated sights now in use. The. center piece of this sight, which secures it to the barrel by a screw, forms the first, or what is called acommon crotch-sight. The slide-frame, or the part that turns up, is attached to each side of the center piece by a pin, forming a close joint. When the said slide-framcisdown,itlies close on the barrel and incloses ,the center piece and the sliding sight. The sliding sight (or plate which is made with a groove on each end or side) slides up and'dowu in said frame to adjust it toany distance desired to be shot.

This sliding plate has, rst, a notch on the top,v

forming a crotch-sight; second, a small hole for a globe-sight; third, a large hole with a cross of tine wire, forming what is called a telescope or hair? sight.

The bayonet O of said tirefarm is formed. by a tube at one end and a tapering segment of a tube to a point at the other end. Said tubular form adapts it to the outer surface of the barrel, so that when the bayonet is returned or in its-ordinary carrying position, the buttend (which is a perfect tube) embraces the forward end ot' the barrel between the muzzle and forward sight. The balance of the bayonet (which is a tapering section of a tube) extends back, closely and smoothly embracing the bottom of the barrel. When said bayonetis fixed (or in position to use) it is reversed and placed on the end of the barrel as before, with point extending forward andthe butt or tube end inclosing the end of the barrel between the muzzle and sight, as before, the sight forming a firm base forthe back end of the bayonet to rest against. Said bayonet is kept in place, both when fixed and returned, by a spring-catch connecting the tubular part to the outer end of the barrel.

The plunger or sliding breechpin P is made to tit the caliber in the back end of the barrel, is tubular,`with the forward end solid, and

the back end closed'by a head being screwed l in. There is a hole through said head for the hammer-rod E to slide in. Thecaliber of said plunger. incloses the hammer-rod and spiral spring by which said hammer is propelled. Said plunger has agroove cut in its surface through its entire length for the Slid ing hook M totravel in. turned out at the forward end to protect the It also has a recessl flange of the cartridge, and to pull the shell of the cartridge out of the barrel, if desired, without the use ot' the sliding hook.

rlhe hammer-rod E is formed with a head on the forward end for the purpose of compressing 4the spiral spring, which is coiled around the rod and held between the head of the rod and the back end of the plunger, all within the 4caliber of said plunger. There is also a notch parts as to connect to the plunger by meansl of an opening for the insertion ot' the cartridge in the under side ot' the barrel, and also per' form the several functions of a trigger-guard, a lever for operating the plunger, and a recoilblock between the plunger and a fixed portion of thc gun, substantially as and to the elect hereinabove set forth.

2. As myimprovement, the plunger made with a head screwed into the back end to hold the spiral spring and to guide the ha mmer-rod, also, the groove in said plunger for the sliding hook to travel in, substantially as and for the purpose set for'th. Y l

3. The form of the center percussion-pin, L, being formed with a large at head,tting the whole caliber of the plunger, and covering the head ot' the small side percussioxrpin, so that when the center pin is struck by the head of the hammer it drives the small side pin also, and also holds the small pin in its place, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The making of the hook and the spring that holds the hammer-rod both in one piece, and fastening the same to the upper instead of the lower strap ot' the breech-piece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

`5. The peculiar lconstruction of the stirrup K, it being made so that it embraces the end of the hook, spring, hammer-rod, and trigger, holding the hammer-rod firmly to the hook when the gun is cocked,(it also pulls the rod from the hook when the trigger is pulled to fire the gnn,) substantially as and for the purpose set forth. l

' j CHARLES HOWARD.x Witnesses:

GEO. B. MORSE, f CHAs. E. Home. 

